Concrete firm fined for causing air pollution

A firm based on an industrial estate in Widnes was fined for causing air pollution after an off-duty environmental health officer noticed dark smoke coming from the site.

Halton Concrete's Kenneth Hulme, 66, and 39-year-old Derek Hulme were forced to pay £500 for pollution and court costs of £147.50 after being found guilty of breaching air quality legislation, the Runcorn and Widnes World reported.

Their prosecution came after a Halton Council environmental health officer noticed a large plume of smoke in the air in March, which she believed to be an offence under the Clean Air Act 1993.

She took video footage and photographs of the fire and smoke she found on the industrial site.

These were shown in court and led to the tribunal of the two defendants.

The problems of poor air quality have been discussed a lot lately after a report by the House of Commons environmental audit committee revealed that air pollution could contribute to 50,000 deaths in the UK every year.

Posted by Lauren Steadman